Experiences and mental challenges of Turkish healthcare professionals in the Libyan flood disaster: a qualitative study

Objective The provision of aid services in the context of disasters can also give rise to a range of physical and psychological issues among healthcare professionals. Such circumstances have the potential to negatively impact both their well-being and professional performance. However, their difficulty in expressing all of their experiences makes it difficult to understand this situation in depth. This study aims to explore in depth the experiences and mental challenges faced by Turkish health professionals during the Libyan flood disaster. Methods This was a qualitative study involving 10 health workers who had been involved in disaster response following the floods. The flood occurred on 10 September 2023. Data were collected between March and August 2024 through semi-structured interviews conducted either online or face-to-face in the participants’ homes. This timeframe enabled participants to articulate both their immediate reactions to the disaster and its longer-term effects on their personal and professional lives. An interpretive phenomenological approach was employed using Colaizzi’s phenomenological analysis technique. Results The analysis revealed four principal themes. First, healthcare professionals emphasised the essential knowledge and skills required to provide effective care and treatment in the context of the flood. Second, they reported substantial physical challenges in the disaster zone, such as limited resources and disrupted infrastructure. Third, they described the profound mental challenges they faced, including stress, fear and emotional exhaustion. Finally, participants highlighted various coping strategies they employed to manage these difficulties and sustain their professional performance. Conclusion The study revealed that Turkish healthcare professionals who volunteered after the floods in Libya experienced not only physical challenges such as lack of resources, infrastructure problems and security concerns, but also psychological challenges such as secondary trauma and burnout. Furthermore, it was observed that not only professional knowledge and skills but also the capacity to cope with traumatic experiences are decisive in the effectiveness of disaster response processes. The study underscores the necessity for the implementation of psychosocial support and training programmes for professionals, with the objective of accelerating both individual and societal recovery processes following disasters.